**4824 Albbm**  **AW, sunt**  **ldo El** **P*so,****TX 799052793**  **DlY53MW**

**1001 Imar.**  **suit*** **700 Nouslon.lx.**  **770023111 712l22NSm** 

**UQO N.** **TtnIh. Suilt**  **B MCAIhn.** **7x. 78501-1655**  **5r2iaws47**

**200 Main** **Plaza. Suite** **ux) Sm**  **htonlo. TX.**  **792052797 5m22E-419~** 

**An Epual** **Oppwtunityl Alllrmrtlrr**  **Acllon Employs**  

# The Attorney General ofTexas ?d~wry 21, 1986

**Eonorablo Srcpha**  **C. Bovrrd**  **Orange County**  **Att,miq** Courthowe **Orange, tcxbr**  771630

DearXr. Itoward: Oplnloa 80. Ju-439 h?: compllbnct vith etction 1Aof article 6701b. T.T.C.S.. and **the diemissal**  **of** charges

Pou **have** asked about **the** appllcat5on of **etctlon** 1Aof articlt 670lh. P.T.C.S., the **safety** rtsponsibUity law, **vhich** provides **thnr** nc motor vehicle ms,,be operated In **this state** 

P.T.C.S. The 

### unltst(Ipolicy of automobile liabbilitg Insurance In st **ltnrt the**  minfmum amounts **to** provide evidence of ffnancial responsibility under **this** Act III in effect to Insure **bgbinst** potential loests vhich asp arise out of the operation of that vtIhicle.

l rt. 6701h. **llA(b).**
statute further provides:


### Sec.. 1B. (a) Onand after January 1, 1982, **tvtq cmntr**  andlor gptcbtor 

### inthe Start of Ttxat shall 

### be required, as s condition of driving, to furnftrtr, upon rtqutst. evidence of financial rtsporwlbbllity to alav tnforctmtnt off%car of the State of Tuar or **tn]r** subdivision thereof, or **agent** of **the Departcent,**  **or to**  another person involmtd in ansccidtut. (b) The follwing tvldtnct of flnbncial rcspoosib~lity SbCi8fIts **cbt** rtqu1remtnt of Subsection (a) of this ttcrion: (1) a liabllit~ iosurance policy in tht rainFoumlimits required by this **Act** or aphotocopy of ttat policy;

. . . ..

See. 1C. Tbilure to msintbln fineecitl rsspoo

### l ibility &, dtffired in soCti00 l(10) of this **Act ie**  **b cl&SO**  **C**

### l

**isk8tsnor,** punishable by **s fine**  **of** not less than Smenty-fhe vllbts ($75). Subsequent offenses **rho11** be **Clb@S** B misdtmtbnors. punishbble by t tint of not 1SSS **thbn**TV0Eundrtd Dollars ($200).
Sec. ID. Ir 1,~8 dtftast to prosecution under **this Act**  **if the**  **person charged**  products in court en tutomobile Mobility **insurbuc8** policy or **8** ctrtificbtc of es:lf-insurtnce **prt.ViOUdy** issued co **thst** person thtc: **V&S** vslid tt the tint that the offtnrtis blltgtd to **hbvt** occurred bnd**the charge.**  shell bedismisetd. V.T.C.S. art. 6701h. S(lB. lC, 1D.

**YOU** 8uggtst **4** fact SituAtiOn vhtre **4 IsotOrjSt**  trrttttd for **4** violetion of crticle 6701h. section **IA,** vhile driving 8borrowed cnr thbt vss **not** insured by Ithe ovner. produced b policy of liability insurance **(thbt v&s**  **in** tfftct **bt** the time of **the** alleged viokition) covering himstlf. **You tot:**  **vhtthtt the**  motorist in such t situation vould be entitled **to** dismi,ssal of the **thbrgt6** under section 10of cht statute. bndvhtthtr, in ‘mcdtrto use the dtftnae. the policy produced must “contnin lengunge **Cxst he**  **ib covered**  **vhtn** driving bu unlnsurtd vehicle.” In Attorney Gtntrrl Opinion I%‘-547(19821, the “msniftst object” bnd **purpose** of the proviblon vbs raid to be **“ to**  bssurt **the** finnncinl rteponsibility of motorir,ts **for** theprotection of those vhose 

### livtcor property might be htrmed by the **OperbtiOKI** of vehicles." Section 18 requires **thbt every**  **“ ountr**  and/or **tptfbtorn** furnish **evidence** of fintncial rtaponclb51ityJ bad= section ID **it** is **8** defense to prosecution if the “ptrr;a& &f&d produces ” **on** butomobllt libbility insurance policy vhfch m!4:C8cht rtquirtatntr of the **bet.** If the operbtor, vbtthtr or **oot** he ownsthe vehicle, productb n v&lid policy **thbt** adtqtrtrrcly protected tbt public at **rht time**  **be** optrbttd **the** vehicle. he is tnfitltd to **dismmibS&l**of the charge against him under section 1Dof brriclt 6701h. V.T.C.S. The polky aced not ntctssbri~y **cont.&in** specific ltngubgt expressly referring to vehicles “not insured by 

### theovut~ thereof.” so long 8s language in the policy hta the lt(;rl result of providing stbtutorlly adequate **COVtrbgt** for tht **operator** vhflt optrbring the **vehicle bc**  **the tiw**  of the alleged vlolbtion. **Cf.** ,- Attorney **Gtntrbl** Opinion m-315 (1985); IN-577 (1982).Roaorrblo Stepbro C. Rourr~d - ?rgo 3 (Jn439)

**It the**  **operator charged**  with frllurr to uttaio flrwcial rempoarlblllty producer an automobile liability lnrurrnce policy **vhicb** met the requiremanta of the **rrfcty** rcspoarlbilicy law **at tbo**  **time be**  **operated** the vehicle, be ie entitled to ditrmisaal of the charge **rgainrt him**  though the veHcle (if ovned by another) vae not insured by **the Owner.**  Rorpecific **policy** language is required SC’long aa it ir legally adequate to eatirfy **the atstute.** 
Very truly your 

# J-h

.

JIM l4ATTOX Attorney General of Texas JACKRIGETOWER **First** Assistant Attorney General
MART RELLEB Executive Assistant Attorney General
ROBERT

GUY Special Assistant Attorney General
RICRGILPIN Chairman, Opinion Comdttet Prepared **by** Bxuct Younf,blood Assistaot Attorney General